- Must visit
Science and Industry Museum
Major museum on the site of the world’s oldest surviving passenger railway station, covering Manchester’s industrial, scientific and computing heritage.
Cheapest price
$22
Average price
$35
Fastest journey
3 h 20 m
Average duration
3 h 27 m
Buses per day
22
Distance
227 km
The best way to find a cheap bus ticket from Bristol to Manchester is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Bristol to Manchester will cost around $35 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $22.
Of the 22 buses that leave Bristol for Manchester on Mon, Jun 01, 10 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
On Mon, Jun 01 the direct buses cover the 227 km distance in an average of 3 h 27 m but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 3 h 20 m .
On Mon, Jun 01 the slowest buses will take 3 h 30 m and usually involve a change or two along the way, but you might be able to save a few pennies if you’re on a budget.
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FlixBusOmio recommends booking the bus as it is the most popular option from Bristol to Manchester among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from $12. For those with little time consider booking a train which can get you there in 3h 33m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.1 - 0.2kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $12, and a train costs an average of $33.
Distance: 141 miles (227 km)
Most popular Bus | Train | Driving |
|---|---|---|
$22 Average price Cheapest | $74 Average price | $75 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
4h 20m Average total duration 3h 50m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 3m Average total duration Fastest 3h 33m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 3h 15m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.2 - 0.6kg CO2 emissions | 0.1 - 0.2kg CO2 emissions Lowest | - CO2 emissions |
![]() Most popular bus company | ![]() Most popular train company | Your own car or car rental |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
This is compared to other travel options from Bristol to Manchester:
A bus is $52 (€42) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Bristol to Manchester costing on average $74 (€59).
Other travel options to Manchester take longer:
Bus takes on average 3h 50m.
Tickets start at around $22 (€18) compared to roughly $75 (€60) in fuel and tolls — a saving of about $53 (€43). The journey takes 3h 50m versus 3h 15m by car, so you'll arrive a bit later, but you can use the time productively rather than spending it behind the wheel. No parking to sort, no fuel stops, and most coaches have Wi-Fi and power outlets.
Direct services are operated by FlixBus, Megabus.
Driving is worth considering if you're on a tight schedule, travelling as a group (where fuel costs split several ways), or want the flexibility to stop along the way.
| Operator | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Duration | Departure days | Cheapest price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Operator National Express | Departure Time 01:00AM | Arrival Time 07:35AM | Duration 6h35 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $32 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 05:50AM | Arrival Time 11:15AM | Duration 5h25 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $29 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 07:00AM | Arrival Time 01:00PM | Duration 6h00 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri | Cheapest price $28 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 07:15AM | Arrival Time 12:45PM | Duration 5h30 | Departure days Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $28 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 08:35AM | Arrival Time 12:30PM | Duration 3h55 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $12 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 09:00AM | Arrival Time 02:05PM | Duration 5h05 | Departure days Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $26 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 09:20AM | Arrival Time 03:00PM | Duration 5h40 | Departure days Tue, Thu | Cheapest price $57 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 09:50AM | Arrival Time 03:00PM | Duration 5h10 | Departure days Mon, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $57 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 10:50AM | Arrival Time 04:05PM | Duration 5h15 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $26 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 11:45AM | Arrival Time 03:15PM | Duration 3h30 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $12 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 12:00PM | Arrival Time 05:15PM | Duration 5h15 | Departure days Mon, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $28 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 12:30PM | Arrival Time 05:45PM | Duration 5h15 | Departure days Tue, Thu | Cheapest price $26 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 01:00PM | Arrival Time 06:35PM | Duration 5h35 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $32 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 02:05PM | Arrival Time 05:35PM | Duration 3h30 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $12 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 02:05PM | Arrival Time 08:15PM | Duration 6h10 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri | Cheapest price $26 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 02:20PM | Arrival Time 07:10PM | Duration 4h50 | Departure days Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $26 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 03:45PM | Arrival Time 09:10PM | Duration 5h25 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $26 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 04:50PM | Arrival Time 10:55PM | Duration 6h05 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri | Cheapest price $26 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 05:05PM | Arrival Time 10:30PM | Duration 5h25 | Departure days Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $26 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 05:20PM | Arrival Time 08:45PM | Duration 3h25 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $12 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 06:20PM | Arrival Time 11:10PM | Duration 4h50 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $26 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 07:30PM | Arrival Time 10:50PM | Duration 3h20 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $12 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 07:40PM | Arrival Time 12:25AM | Duration 4h45 | Departure days Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $29 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 07:45PM | Arrival Time 12:25AM | Duration 4h40 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri | Cheapest price $29 |
Operator National Express | Departure Time 09:20PM | Arrival Time 06:05AM | Duration 8h45 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri | Cheapest price $31 |
The table below shows live departures for Bristol to Manchester buses for today, Sunday, May 31. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated bus journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NX106 · NX120 | 5:50 AM Bristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) | 5h25 | 11:15 AM Manchester, Coach Station | 1 transfer | |
NX100 · NX121 | Delayed 6:45 PM 7:15 AMBristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) | 5h30 | 12:45 PM Manchester, Coach Station | 1 transfer | |
FlixBus | 8:35 AM Bristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) | 3h30 | 12:05 PM Manchester, Princess Road / Moss Lane East | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 8:35 AM Bristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) | 3h55 | 12:30 PM Manchester, Shudehill Interchange | 0 transfersDirect | |
NX101 · NX120 | Delayed 9:20 AM 9:00 AMBristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) | 5h05 | 2:05 PM Manchester, Coach Station | 1 transfer | |
NX100 · NX590 | Delayed 6:45 PM 9:50 AMBristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) | 5h10 | 3:00 PM Manchester, Coach Station | 1 transfer | |
NX100 · NX541 | Delayed 6:45 PM 10:50 AMBristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) | 5h15 | 4:05 PM Manchester, Coach Station | 1 transfer | |
FlixBus | 11:45 AM Bristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) | 3h55 | 3:40 PM Manchester, Shudehill Interchange | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 11:45 AM Bristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) | 3h30 | 3:15 PM Manchester, Princess Road / Moss Lane East | 0 transfersDirect | |
NX102 · NX541 | On time 12:00 PM Bristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) | 5h15 | 5:15 PM Manchester, Coach Station | 1 transfer | |
FlixBus | 2:05 PM Bristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) | 3h30 | 5:35 PM Manchester, Princess Road / Moss Lane East | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 2:05 PM Bristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) | 3h55 | 6:00 PM Manchester, Shudehill Interchange | 0 transfersDirect | |
NX100 · NX541 | Delayed 6:45 PM 2:20 PMBristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) | 4h50 | 7:10 PM Manchester, Coach Station | 1 transfer | |
NX104 · NX120 | On time 3:45 PM Bristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) | 5h25 | 9:10 PM Manchester, Coach Station | 1 transfer | |
NX100 · NX541 | Delayed 6:45 PM 5:05 PMBristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) | 5h25 | 10:30 PM Manchester, Coach Station | 1 transfer | |
FlixBus | 5:20 PM Bristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) | 3h25 | 8:45 PM Manchester, Princess Road / Moss Lane East | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 5:20 PM Bristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) | 3h50 | 9:10 PM Manchester, Shudehill Interchange | 0 transfersDirect | |
NX100 · NX120 | Delayed 6:45 PM 6:20 PMBristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) | 4h50 | 11:10 PM Manchester, Coach Station | 1 transfer | |
FlixBus | 7:30 PM Bristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) | 3h20 | 10:50 PM Manchester, Princess Road / Moss Lane East | 0 transfersDirect | |
FlixBus | 7:30 PM Bristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) | 3h40 | 11:10 PM Manchester, Shudehill Interchange | 0 transfersDirect | |
NX101 · NX541 | On time 7:40 PM Bristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) | 4h45 | 12:25 AM Manchester, Coach Station | 1 transfer | |
| Monday, June 1 | |||||
NX100 · NX421 | 1:00 AM Bristol, Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough St) | 6h35 | 7:35 AM Manchester, Coach Station | 1 transfer | |
This is the last bus of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare train and bus prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.
Buses from Bristol to Manchester run on average 19 times per day, taking around 3h 50m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at $12 (€9) if you book in advance.
There are 7 buses per day. The earliest bus runs at 00:05, the last at 23:55. The fastest bus covers the 141 miles (227 km) distance in 3h 25m.
Distance 141 miles (227 km) |
Average bus duration 3h 50m |
Cheapest ticket price $12 (€9) |
Buses per day 19 |
Direct buses 7 |
Fastest bus 3h 25m |
First bus 12:05 AM |
Last bus 11:55 PM |
Cheapest Month Dec |
Cheapest Day Thu |
High Season Apr - Jun |
Low Season Jan - Mar |
Busiest Day Thu |
Least Busy Day Fri |
Best time to book 14 days |
Discover the best of Manchester — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Manchester trip today.
Major museum on the site of the world’s oldest surviving passenger railway station, covering Manchester’s industrial, scientific and computing heritage.
University museum with renowned collections in natural history, archaeology and world cultures, recently redeveloped and widely praised.
Popular museum telling the story of football through trophies, memorabilia and interactive displays in the city centre.
Manchester’s best-known creative district, packed with street art, independent shops and a strong music and nightlife identity.
Canal-side conservation area with Roman roots, converted warehouses, bridges and some of the city’s most atmospheric walks.
Famous street in the Gay Village, known for cultural significance, nightlife and role in modern Manchester identity.
A classic Manchester dessert with a shortcrust pastry shell, raspberry jam, custard, coconut, and a cherry on top. It is one of the city’s best-known traditional sweet treats.
A famous Greater Manchester pastry made with flaky pastry filled with currants, butter, and sugar. It is strongly associated with the Manchester area and widely loved across the North West.
A traditional Lancashire and Greater Manchester snack of slow-cooked black badger peas, often served with vinegar. It is a simple local street-food style dish with deep regional roots.
A highly regarded steak and British seafood restaurant set in a former courthouse. It is known for excellent ingredients, strong service, and a smart but relaxed atmosphere.
A popular casual spot for Indian street food and craft beer, known for flavorful vegetarian dishes and a lively atmosphere near the city centre.
A celebrated fine dining restaurant in central Manchester, known for refined modern British cooking and polished service in an elegant historic setting.
Generally cheaper than London. Hotels vary by match days and events, while food, transport, and pubs are mid-priced.
Service charge is uncommon outside upscale venues. In restaurants, 10-12.5% is appreciated for good service. Round up taxis. No tip is expected for pubs, takeaways, or counter service.
Official public transport app
Manchester Airport -> Manchester Piccadilly
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Bristol to Manchester by bus. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest bus, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Manchester, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

Here are some other resources that might have the information you need